#192- Thinking of Japan…

Always…Around this time, I am thinking of Japan a lot,
because my late father’s memorial day is on November 22…, and I am usually busy
preparing for my winter vacation in Japan (I spend one month vacation, Christmas
and New Year in Japan every year).

But, I am not going to have a vacation in Japan this year…
But + Anyway, I am still thinking of Japan a lot...

For us (Japanese people), the season of fall is a special
time for food, books and sports. We enjoy “Eat Play Read” in fall. Sounds
like Thanksgiving in U.S. right?

October 27 through November 9 is the “Reading Week”, and November
3 is the “Day of Culture / Culture Day” in Japan.

***

And I found out about that…from this year 2012, Japanese government
established November 1 as the “Day of the Classics / Classic Day (Koten No Hi)”,
an anniversary to the “classics”, a wide range of arts, such as literature,
music, fine art, performance art, and philosophy.

While it is not a public holiday, various forums and
symposiums were held for this day in Tokyo and Kyoto.

As you may know, Kyoto is formerly the imperial capital of
Japan (Kyoto is an ancient city with a 1200 year history. It was established as
Japan’s capital under the name “Heian-kyo” in the year 794), and the famous
Japanese classic novel “The Tale of Genji (Genji Monogatari)” was born in
Kyoto.

In an entry for November 1, 1008 in “The Diary of Lady
Murasaki (Murasaki Shikibu Nikki)”, written by the author (Murasaki Shikibu) of
the classic “The Tale of Genji (Genji Monogatari)”, there is a reference to the
literary tome. It is the oldest date on which a reference to what is sometimes
considered one of the world’s first and greatest novels appears.

***

When I read some books of classic Japanese literature, I feel
and smell beautiful Japan. The beauty of four seasons in Japan, sensitiveness
of Japanese people, smell of the air in Japan… It’s nice to feel my country
sometimes…

I heard that the classic essay “An Account of My Hut / The
Ten Foot Square (Hōjōki) / by Kamo no Chōmei. Written in 1212, it describes
disasters that befall the people of Kyoto from earthquakes to famine and fire”
has been widely re-read for Japanese people since March 11, 2011 (Great East
Japan Earthquake Disaster).

The opening sentence of “Hōjōki” is famous in Japanese
literature as an expression of impermanence (mujō).

“The current of the flowing river does not cease, and yet
the water is not the same water as before. The foam that floats on stagnant
pools, now vanishing, now forming, never stays the same for long. So, too, it
is with the people and dwellings of the world.”

***

Do you feel like to read a good book? Why don’t you try some
Japanese literature?

Oops… I hope my editors are not reading my blog right now… I
have many deadlines by next week… between the deadline and the deadline…And…I
am not feeling well today (Sorry, A, I couldn’t take your phone call today, I
am really not feeling well and I have many projects)…But… I felt like… I wanted
to write this blog/post…I guess, I am a real writer…ha ha ha!

I was thinking about “how can we resolve issues of terrorism
and war in this world, can we talk instead of fighting?”

And then I realized “I need to think about my issue
first” (since I moved into my apartment in Montrose one year ago)… yes, I have
an issue about my living situation… my upstairs neighbor (64 years old woman who is not working) has been waking me up
every night (around 11:15pm, 12:15am and 1:15am) with loud squeezing footsteps (it sounds not normal & regular footsteps) for one year… I had to
call police twice, and I fought with this neighbor twice…

I tried to go to bed at the same time when this neighbor
goes to bed… it doesn’t work (for me late night ene…

I really think that the founder of Kitson, Mr. Fraser
Kitson Ross is genius for marketing & business. He knows how to entertain
customer, and he knows what L.A. is and how to enjoy L.A.

About Kitson and Fraser, I have written a lot on Senken-Shimbun
and LA Celeb (their business closed, but it was a popular Japanese online
shopping site), and I also made a story about Kitson on Japanese TV program
(TBS TV).

At this time, I interviewed Fraser and wrote an article
about Kitson, him and his new store KITROSS on Senken-Shimbun (major Japanese
fashion business newspaper).

If you want to know about Kitson, Fraser and KITROSS,
read below.

My translation (into English) is not perfect, but my
Japanese article is more than perfect, ha ha…; )